The economy of the Canadian town of Neepawa and the region is strongly dependent on agriculture. The rolling fields in the area support many types of crops and livestock operations. Neepawa serves as a major agricultural service centre for many of the producers in the region. It is located on the Yellowhead Highway, 45 minutes northeast of Brandon, the region's largest centre, and 2 hours northwest of Winnipeg, the provincial capital.
Early settlers and fur traders knew Neepawa as an area of stable climate, good soils and abundant harvests. When the Province of Manitoba was established in 1870, the Neepawa area was in what was then known as "The Northwest Territories".
During the next 30 years, a wave of settlers from the British Isles and Eastern European came into the area. In 1881 the western boundary of Manitoba was extended to its present location, and Neepawa became part of Manitoba.
The Margaret Laurence Home, now a designated Provincial Heritage Site and Level 2 Museum, is a living memorial to Margaret.